Electrically-heated sand-box



(No Model.) L. E. PEASB.

ELEGTRICALLY HBATED SAND BOX.

Patented May 2'4, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT rErcE.

LE'WIS EDVIN PEASE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRlCALLY-HEATED SAN D-BOX.

PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,703, dated May 24, 1892.

i Application filed November 16, 1891. Serial No. L)12,092. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Beit known that 1, LEWIS EDWIN PEAsE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of lVIassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Electric Sand-Box, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an electric sand-boxv to be used in connection with the operating of electric railways and the like. It is designed to be used commonly as applied to an electric car; but it may be applied to sandcars and the like operated by electricity.

My invention has for its object the production of an efcientelectric sand-box under all conditions ot atmosphere, and I accomplish these objects by rendering the sand fluent by an electric heat-generating apparatus.

Figure 1 represents the electric sandbox in elevation, and Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectionalview of Fig. 1. Fig. Srepresents, upon a reduced scale, the sand-box as applied to a common four-wheel electric car, the car being shown in partial outline. Fig. 4L represents in partial central vertical section a different form of sand-box and electrical apparatus.

The sand receptacle or box 10, as represented by Figs 1, 2, and 3, is preferablyahol low inverted frustuin made of any suitable material, such as galvanized iron or copper, and it is provided with the following: base 11, to which is attached the sand-outlet pipe 12 and which is provided with the sand-outlet slide 13, top or hinged sand-box cover 14, heater-pipe-hood supporter or braces 15, and the incandescent-light holder 1G, to the upper portion of which is secured the heater-pipe 17, having the heating-pipe hood 18, and the hinged door19, which opens through the outer case of the box. The sand-outlet slide 13 is provided with the sand-escape hole 20, having a relieving beveled edge, as shown, for permitting the free escape of the sand, and the slide is operated in a reciprocating manner by the employment of suitable mechanism, as represented by Fig. 3, which consists, mainly, of the operating-lever 21 (which may be manipulated by the car-driver) and the connecting-rod 22. The electric-light holder 16 is provided with the incandescent lights 23. These lights are designed to receive electric current from the same source of supply as the electric-car motor of the car in which the sand-box is placed. It is preferred that the sandbox should be placed under the car-seats p and that the sand-outlet pipe 12 should be as short and direct as possible, as shown in Fig. 3. For eight-Wheel cars the sand-outlet pipe may be flexible, as the trucks of the eight-wheeled car being swiveled a flexible outlet-pipe is necessary, in order to insure the sanding of the track close to the wheel-contact with the rail.

The sand-box shown in Fig. 4. is provided with a pillar 17, which may be hollow and constitute a pipe supported in said boX. A resistance-coil 25 is disposed on said pillar and provided with electric connections 2G. This spiral resistance-coil on the pillar heats the sand and keeps it in fluent condition.

The operation of my device is as follows: The electric sand-box is located, as represented by Fig. 3, and the sand-outlet pipe is extended to a point directly over the rail and near the wheel-tread. By raising the sandboX cover sand, preferably dried sand, lnay be pouredinto the box until the space between the light-holder, heater-pipe, and the interior ofthe boX is entirely lilled with sand. Then by the use o't` the electric-heating apparatus sufcient heat may be applied to the sand to renn der it under all conditions of atmosphere iluent, and the operator by the use of the sandoutlet slide and its connected parts may thor1n oughly sand the rails, thereby lessening the wheel-slippage. It is essential, in order to insure the liuency of the sand, that it should be kept in a thoroughly-dry condition.

It is obvious that many modifications will be necessary of the sand-box and of the electric-heating apparatus to adapt the same to the various requirements relative to its application to electric-railway uses.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric sand-box comprising a box having a cover, a sandpipe provided with a valve, mechanism for operating said valve, braces projecting from the top of the box, a hood supported on said braces, and a heatingpipe fitting into said hood, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a box for containing sand provided with a valved outlet-pipe, a

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pillar supported Within said box, and a resista resistance-coil disposed spirally on said pil- [o ance coil disposed on said pillar and provided lar and provided with electric connections. with electric connections. In testimony whereof I have signed my 3. The combination ofztbox for containing` nmne to this specification in the presence of sand provided With a valved outlet-pipe, L two subscribing Witnesses.

/ l detachable hood supported in said box near LEWIS EDWIN PEASE.

the top thereof, brackets Within said box at Witnesses: or near the bottom thereof,aJ pillar supported J. EDWARD PORTER,

on said brackets and engaging said hood, and l CHARLES O. EARRAR. 

